Judith A. (Padget) Hyde-Hintzman, who spent more than two decades as editor of The Monroe Evening Times, died Saturday, Aug. 31, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She was 77.
Hyde-Hintzman was born March 14, 1942, in Bay City, Mich., to Harold J. Padget and Fern (Nutt) Padget. She graduated from Bay City T.L. Handy High School in 1960, where she was editor of the high school newspaper and yearbook.
After studying journalism at Indiana University, she worked as a telephone operator and in hospital administration. Hyde-Hintzman settled in Northern Illinois, where she rekindled her passion for journalism in the mid-1970s.
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She worked her way up from news correspondent to news editor and managing editor at a local weekly before being named editor of The Monroe Evening Times. Hyde-Hintzman served in the role for more than 20 years, leading what became known as The Monroe Times through a number of major changes in design, pagination and the development of a digital presence.
During her time as editor, the Times earned many accolades for its high-caliber journalism, including first-place general excellence honors in the WNA Foundation’s Better Newspaper Contest. She also served as president of the Associated Press Managing Editors chapter in Wisconsin.
Services will be held in her honor in both Cedar Rapids and Monroe. A memorial service is scheduled for Oct. 5 at Salem United Methodist Church in Cedar Rapids, as well as a celebration of life from 1 to 4 p.m. on Oct 26 at the Ludlow Mansion, 1421 Mansion Drive, Monroe.
Per her wishes, a journalism scholarship will be set up in Hyde-Hintzman’s name at Monroe High School.
